2010
#144,141
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 115
First available Census row
Per 100,000 0.04
Very Rare Last name
Asonye
A Igbo surname derived from the phrase "aso na-enye" meaning "hawk offers/provides".
According to the 2020 US Census Bureau surname tables, roughly 123 Americans carry the last name Asonye. That puts it at #151,639 in the national surname ranking, appearing at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 people (about 1 in 2,786,621 residents).
This page is the full Name Census profile for the Asonye surname. You will find the Census Bureau frequency data, a multi-census history view, an ancestry and ethnicity breakdown based on self-reported demographics, the name's meaning and origin where available, and answers to the most common questions people ask about this surname.
Bearers in the US
123
1 in 2,786,621
Census rank
#151,639
2020 decennial data
Per 100,000
0.0
Frequency rate
Recorded bearers
107
very rare in the US
Popularity narrative
The Census Bureau recorded 107 bearers of the surname Asonye in its 2020 decennial surname file. At a rate of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, it holds the 151639th position in the national surname ranking.
Among Census respondents with the surname Asonye, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Hispanic (0.9%).
Origin
Meaning and origin of Asonye
The surname ASONYE originated in the Igbo ethnic group of southeastern Nigeria. It is a relatively modern surname, emerging in the late 19th or early 20th century. The name is derived from the Igbo phrase "Aso n'ye," which translates to "clothing is admirable" or "clothing is good."
In traditional Igbo society, clothing and textiles held significant cultural and economic importance. The production of intricate woven fabrics and dyes was a highly valued skill. It is likely that the ASONYE name was initially bestowed upon individuals or families involved in the textile trade or renowned for their expertise in weaving or dyeing.
While there are no known historical references to the ASONYE name in ancient manuscripts or records, some of the earliest documented individuals with this surname can be traced back to the early 20th century in the regions of Anambra and Imo states in Nigeria.
One of the earliest recorded individuals with the ASONYE surname was Nwanze ASONYE, born in the late 19th century in the town of Owerri, Imo State. He was a prominent trader and community leader known for his involvement in the local textile industry.
Another notable figure was Chukwuemeka ASONYE, born in the 1920s in Awka, Anambra State. He was a respected teacher and author who wrote extensively about Igbo culture and traditions, including the significance of traditional textiles and clothing.
In the mid-20th century, Ngozi ASONYE, born in Onitsha, Anambra State, gained recognition as a skilled weaver and dyer. Her vibrant and intricate fabrics were highly sought after and contributed to the preservation of traditional Igbo textile arts.
Uzoma ASONYE, born in the 1960s in Enugu, was a prominent fashion designer who drew inspiration from traditional Igbo textiles and clothing styles. Her designs were celebrated both nationally and internationally, showcasing the rich cultural heritage of the Igbo people.
More recently, Chinedu ASONYE, born in the 1980s in Aba, Abia State, has gained recognition as a successful entrepreneur and advocate for sustainable textile production. His company promotes the use of locally sourced materials and traditional dyeing techniques, preserving the Igbo textile legacy.
While the ASONYE surname is relatively modern, its roots can be traced back to the deep-rooted cultural significance of textiles and clothing in Igbo society. The name serves as a testament to the enduring importance of this tradition and the skill and artistry of those who have dedicated their lives to preserving and advancing it.
Demographics
Ancestry and ethnicity for Asonye
Among Census respondents with the surname Asonye, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Hispanic (0.9%).
The bar chart below shows how Asonye bearers described their own race and ethnicity on the 2020 Census form. The Census Bureau groups responses into six broad categories: White, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, Asian and Pacific Islander, American Indian and Alaska Native, and Two or More Races. When a category has too few respondents for a given surname, the Bureau suppresses the figure to protect individual privacy, which is why some names show fewer than six slices.
Percentages are shown for every Census year so the breakdown stays comparable over time. When the source file also includes raw headcounts, Name Census shows those alongside the percentages in the legend.
Keep in mind that these are self-reported numbers. A person's surname does not determine their race or ethnicity, and the distribution you see here reflects the specific population who happened to carry the Asonye surname at the time of the 2020 Census, not any inherent property of the name itself.
- Black or African American95.3% · 102
- Two or more races2.8% · 3
- Hispanic or Latino0.9% · 1
- American Indian and Alaska Native0.9% · 1
Timeline
Historical Census data for Asonye
Asonye appears in 2 published Census surname files: 2010, 2020. The cards below show how the name's rank and bearer count changed across each release.
2020
#151,639
National surname rank
Recorded bearers 107
-8 bearers (-7.0%)
Per 100,000 0.04
Rank movement Down 7,498 places
| Year | Rank | Count | Per 100K | Count change | Rank change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | #144,141 | 115 | 0.04 | First available Census row | First available Census row |
| 2020 | #151,639 | 107 | 0.04 | -8 bearers (-7.0%) | Down 7,498 places |
For 2020, the Census Bureau published race and Hispanic-origin columns as counts rather than percentages. Name Census converts those counts back into shares so the ancestry section stays comparable with the older surname files.
Year on year
2010 vs 2020 Census
How has the Asonye surname changed between Census years? The chart shows bearer count side by side, and the table compares rank, count, and frequency.
Census year comparison
20102020
| Metric | 2010 | 2020 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rank | #144,141 | #151,639 | -5.2% |
| Count | 115 | 107 | -7.0% |
| Per 100K | 0.04 | 0.04 | -10.5% |
Between the 2010 and 2020 Census, the number of Asonye bearers went from 115 to 107 (-7.0% change). The surname moved down 7,498 positions in the national ranking, going from #144,141 to #151,639.
FAQ
Asonye surname: questions and answers
How many people in the U.S. have the surname Asonye?
Name Census estimates that about 123 living Americans carry the surname Asonye. Using the current population baseline, that works out to roughly 1 in 2,786,621 residents.
How common is Asonye?
Asonye ranks #151,639 in the 2020 Census surname tables and is classified on this site as "Very Rare." The Census recorded the name at a frequency of 0.04 per 100,000 residents, which is about 0 people out of every 100,000.
How many people with this surname were counted in the Census?
The raw 2020 Census file counted 107 people with the surname Asonye. That is different from the site's living-bearer estimate (123), which projects the surname's present-day count by applying the Census frequency rate to the current U.S. population.
What does 0.04 per 100,000 actually mean?
It is the Census Bureau's normalized frequency measure. A rate of 0.04 per 100,000 means that if you picked a random group of 100,000 U.S. residents, you would expect about 0 of them to have the surname Asonye.
Has Asonye become more or less common over time?
Between 2010 and 2020, the surname Asonye went from 115 recorded bearers to 107. That is a decrease of 8 (-7.0%). In the national ranking it fell from #144,141 to #151,639.
What does the Census say about the background of Asonye?
Among Census respondents with the surname Asonye, the largest self-reported group is Black at 95.3%. The next largest groups are Two or More Races (2.8%) and Hispanic (0.9%). These figures come from the 2020 Census Bureau surname tables, based on how respondents described their own race and ethnicity.
Which group reports this surname most often?
Black is the largest self-reported group for the surname Asonye in the 2020 Census, accounting for 95.3% (102 people in the source table).
What is the full ancestry breakdown?
Asonye appears across multiple self-reported groups in the Census data. The largest shares in the 2020 file are Black (95.3%), Two or More Races (2.8%), Hispanic (0.9%). For 2020, the source file also published raw headcounts for each group, which is why this page can show both percentages and counts in the ancestry section.
Is this page using the latest Census data?
Yes. This page is using the latest surname file currently loaded on Name Census, which is 2020. The historical section above also keeps any older Census surname entries we have for Asonye (2010, 2020).
Does the Census include every surname?
No. The Census Bureau only publishes surnames that appeared at least 100 times in a given decennial Census. That means very rare surnames are excluded entirely, and a surname can appear in one Census release but disappear from a later one if it falls below the reporting threshold.
Why don't the ancestry percentages always add up to exactly 100%?
There are two main reasons: rounding and suppression. The Census Bureau rounds published values, and it may suppress very small cells to protect privacy. For 2020, the Bureau also published raw group counts rather than direct percentages, so Name Census converts those counts back into shares for comparability across census years.
What does Asonye mean?
A Igbo surname derived from the phrase "aso na-enye" meaning "hawk offers/provides". The fuller origin note on this page goes into more detail.
Where does the surname data come from?
All surname statistics on Name Census are drawn from the US Census Bureau's decennial surname frequency tables. These files list every surname that appeared 100 or more times in the 2020 Census, along with a count, a per-100,000 rate, and a self-reported demographic breakdown. You can read the full explanation on our methodology page.
How does Name Census estimate living bearers?
For surnames, Name Census does not age cohorts the way it does for first names. Instead, it takes the Census Bureau's published frequency for Asonye (0.04 per 100,000) and applies that rate to the current U.S. resident population to estimate how many living Americans have the surname today.
How many people are called Asonye?
You can see how many people have the last name Asonye on our sister site HowManyOfMe.org — same data roots, lighter UI.